Blending politics and religion, Obama says his policies are an extension of Christian faith

[cbayer]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/campaigns/blending-politics-and-religion-obama-says-his-policies-are-an-extension-of-christian-faith/2012/02/02/gIQAn4y1kQ_story.html

By Associated Press, Updated: Thursday, February 2, 12:29 PM

WASHINGTON — Blending politics and religion, President Barack Obama said his Christian faith is a driving force behind his economic policies, from Wall Street reform to his calls for the wealthy to pay higher taxes.

Obama’s remarks Thursday at the National Prayer Breakfast were his most explicit account of how his personal religious beliefs factor into his decision-making on the nation’s pressing problems. The comments came amid election-year criticism from Catholic groups and some Republicans that the president is waging a war on religion following his decision to require church-affiliated institutions to cover free birth control for employees.

Speaking to more than 3,000 people at the annual breakfast, Obama said “faith and values” should play as much as role in tackling the nation’s challenges as sound decision-making and smart policies.

He said, for example, that his own call for fairness in the tax code — a central tenet of his State of the Union address and his 2012 campaign — is both economically sound and consistent with the teachings of Jesus.

more at link

[Dragonfli]

1. Why is he proud to be counted among the Fellowship Foundation that hosts this event? This is bad.

About the National Prayer Breakfast:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Prayer_Breakfast

Hosted by the Fellowship Foundation:
[link]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Family_(Christian_political_organization)|[/link]

The goal of that organization and it's political influence via this breakfast and "the family" is to bring about a Calvinistic Theocracy.
It is not the sort of mixture of political power with religious faith that I would expect from a constitutional scholar, it was (I thought) more of a Conservative foundation and event (historically at least that is what it has been).

I am very disappointed.

[cbayer]

2. This has been a point of contention for some time.

I don't think he is a member of the Fellowship Foundation, though.

As I understand it, this is a Congressionally sponsored event that the FF helps organize. Their involvement in it is indeed problematic, though.

Apparently the President has spoken at this ever since it's inception, so it presents a sticky wicket in terms of his participation.

[Goblinmonger]

3. Why does he do this?

Why does he feel the need to pander like this. Why can't a good tax code be a good tax code. This just perpetuates the myth that this is a Christian country. And it so clearly a "vote for me 'cause I'm a Christian and Mitt ain't."

[The Straight Story]

4. Because a majority of voters and the people he represents identify as Christians

And many who won't vote for him will use 'scripture' as a reason. When talking to such folks you have to have some respect for their ideals/beliefs. A wise Buddhist monk once explained this to his student when his student asked him about the people who lived by the lake. He didn't believe in their beliefs, they flew many flags to honor the spirit of the lakes, etc.

The monk explained to him that even if those spirits do not exist, the people there belief they do and they have an influence in their life and dealings with others. So in that sense they exist and in dealing with them you should respect their beliefs.

[madrchsod]

5. one of christ`s pet peeves was the unfair tax codes of the romans and the jewish upperclass.

ya jesus was`t a popular guy in his day....

[lindysalsagal]

6. I give him a pass: This takes their only real gripe against him and neutralizes it.

He's already beat the terra wimp charge, and the economic slump charge, so, he's taking their fav attack away from them: Good for him.

The important thing is when Obama discusses religion, he doesn't use it to marginalize anyone: It is possible to talk about godly things without making other people feel left out.

[darkstar3]

7. And yet, as Rachel Maddow said,

no one within the beltway gives any credence to the idea that President Obama's speech was any more than lipservice.

Anyone who felt better about voting for him, or felt better about the possibility of his continued Presidency, after this speech is a moron who can't recognize an obvious pander when they see it.

Of course, no one ever lost an election by god-bagging.

[skepticscott]

9. I might believe that

if it weren't for his incessant promotion of his "Faith-Based" initiative and his throwing gobs of money at organizations that are both religious and discriminatory because of their religion. That goes far, far beyond "lip service".

[deacon_sephiroth]

10. I'll just never get over the fact that our politicians HAVE TO

even if it is just lip service, it shouldn't be neccisary. I'm so sick of elected or "electable" officials having to kneel down and kiss the god-father's ring.

[darkstar3]

11. Agreed.

[ZombieHorde]

8. His stated reason for being against gay marriage was God, so this isn't really new. nt